Information recording/reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Module compressing/encoding plural images for recording, or an image recording apparatus or image recording system including the module. At least two first and second image input module types capture an image of frames from a video signal source, and convert into digital image data for output; an image input arbitration module arbitrates to place digital image data provided by the first type before digital image data provided by the second type. The first type image input module is provided with a real-time image. The apparatus or system further includes: a memory module temporarily storing the real-time image by a processing time for the arbitration module to process digital image data provided by the second type of image input module, an image encoding module compressing and encoding the digital image data, and changing a processing speed to perform a process of compression and encoding more in real time.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/932,130, filed Jul. 1, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/103,734, filed Apr. 16, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.8,477,850, issued Jul. 2, 2013. This application relates to and claimspriority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-156959, filed on Jun.14, 2007. The entirety of the contents and subject matter of all of theabove is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a system and method for recordingreproducing a set of moving images of the combination of an image ofposition information and an image captured by a user.

The recent progresses of digitalization are remarkable for still andvideo cameras, and users thus find it very easy to use such cameras forimage capturing and recording, thereby allowing recording of a largeamount of video information. The concern here is that, with a largeamount of video captured during a long trip, for example, users may notremember where they have captured which video after the trip. If this isthe case, the users may find it very convenient and useful for laterviewing and editing if each video is with its map information in a pieceof video data. This is also true for data captured by video camerasdisposed at a plurality of places for monitoring use, and the video datais considered useful if it carries therein any captured video togetherwith an image of position information.

The technology similar thereto is exemplified by drive recording, whichis recently adopted for use in taxies and others. With drive recording,situation data including position information and image-capturing dataare recorded at any image-capturing timing that is automaticallydetermined. The problem with such a technology is that, because theimage-capturing timing is determined automatically, there is no way insome cases of avoiding recording a large amount of unneeded data. Forprevention of such a problem, Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2007-11907)describes the technology with a learning function for selection ofrecorded data, and after a user captures any image, he or she inputsneeded/unneeded information so that the learning is made about imagecapturing.

SUMMARY

The problem of the above technology is that, because images are capturedin an automatic manner as such, there remains some doubt about acomplete matching with users' needs, and it is thus considered notsuitable for users to freely capture their desired images together withmap information.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system andmethod for recording and reproducing a set of moving images of thecombination of an image of position information and a user-capturedimage with no need for a complicated process.

In an aspect of the invention, a video camera is provided not only withmeans for receiving any general captured images but also with means forreceiving images from any other video input source. The video camera isalso provided with an image input arbitration section that captures,after arbitration, video data coming from these two input means, andstores the resulting data into a memory. If this is the configuration,when the video input source is a video output terminal of a carnavigation system, the screen of the car navigation system, i.e., mapinformation, can be stored in a memory together with a user's capturedimage. When the video camera is used for monitoring, data capturing intoa memory is also enabled when the video input source is a medium alreadycarrying therein map image data, e.g., USB (Universal Serial Bus) flashmemory and SD (Secure Digital) card, and means for reading the map imagedata from the medium. The data in the memory is subjected to a processof compression and encoding as moving images so that the image ofposition information and the user's captured image can be processed as aset of moving images.

According to the aspect of the invention, with no need for a complicatedprocess, an image of position information and a user-captured image canbe recorded and reproduced as a set of moving images.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an imagerecording/reproducing system of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the image recording/reproducing system ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of stream data generated in the imagerecording/reproducing system of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of an imagerecording/reproducing system of a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the image recording/reproducing system ofthe second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of stream data generated in the imagerecording/reproducing system of the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of an imagerecording/reproducing system of a third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a system for transferring stream dataat a hotspot; and

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary thumbnail display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Most preferred embodiments of the invention are described.

In the below, embodiments of an image recording/reproducing system andmethod of the invention are described by referring to the accompanyingdrawings.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment is now described. In this embodiment, referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, described is the operation after a user issues animage-capturing command but before image capturing is taken place. FIG.1 shows an image recording/reproducing system in the first embodiment ofthe invention. In FIG. 1, a video camera 1 is configured to include anoperation input section 11, a control section 12, a captured image inputsection 13, an external image input section 14, an image inputarbitration section 15, an image memory section 16, an image encodingsection 17, an audio input section 18, an audio encoding section 19, adata generation section 1A, a data recording section 1B, and a recordingmedium 1C. The operation input section 11 is exemplified by a button anda touch panel for allowing a user to directly input various types ofcommands including the image-capturing command. The control section 12applies control over other components in charge of image capturing. Thecaptured image input section 13 receives a target image of user's imagecapturing, and outputs data of the resulting captured image afterdigitalization thereof. The external video input section 14 receivesvideo coming from a navigation system 2 that will be described later.The image input arbitration section 15 arbitrates the order of the imagedata, i.e., the captured image data coming from the captured image inputsection 13 and navigation image data coming from the external imageinput section 14, and outputs the resulting data. The image memorysection 16 stores, on a temporary basis, the data coming from the imageinput arbitration section 15. The image encoding section 17 reads theimage data from the image memory section 16, subjects the image data toimage compression and encoding by MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) 2and H.264, for example, and outputs the resulting encoded image data.The audio input section 18 receives a target audio of user's imagecapturing, and outputs data of the resulting audio after digitalizationthereof. The audio encoding section 19 subjects the audio data comingfrom the audio input section 18 to audio compression by AC3 and DolbyDigital, for example, and outputs the resulting encoded audio data. Thedata generation section 1A multiplexes both the encoded image data andthe encoded audio data, and outputs stream data. The data recordingsection 1B records the stream data onto a recording medium that will bedescribed later. The recording medium 1C is exemplified by a DVD(Digital Versatile Disc), a Blu-ray, a hard disk, a semiconductormemory, and others. The video camera 1 is connected to the navigationsystem 2 through an AV (Audio Visual) cable 3. The navigation system 2is configured to include a navigation body section 21 and a navigationdisplay section 22, and the navigation body section 21 includes anavigation image output section 211 that outputs navigation video. Thenavigation image output section 211 keeps outputting video signals tothe navigation display section 22, and outputs signals also to the AVcable 3 connected to an external video terminal (not shown), and others.

FIG. 2 shows the operation flow of the components in the firstembodiment.

Described next is the procedure of image capturing in the imagerecording/reproducing system of the first embodiment. A user issues animage-capturing command to the operation input section 11 using thebuttons and switches provided to the video camera 1. The operation inputsection 11 then issues an image-capturing start command to the controlsection 12. In response, the control section 12 issues an activationcommand all to the captured image input section 13, the audio inputsection 18, and the external image input section 14. In response to theactivation command, the external image input section 19 captures,through the AV cable 3, the video signals that are always coming fromthe external video terminal of the navigation system 2 and others, andgenerates navigation image data for output to the image inputarbitration section 15. The captured image input section 13 receives atarget image of user's image capturing, and generates captured imagedata by digitalizing the target image. The resulting data is forwardedto the image input arbitration section 15. The audio input section 18receives any target audio of the user's image capturing, and generatesaudio data by digitalizing the target audio. The resulting data isforwarded to the audio encoding section 19. The data provided to theimage input arbitration section 15 as such, i.e., the navigation imagedata and the captured image data, are temporarily stored each in an areaof the image memory section 16 in this order for encoding. That is, thenavigation image data is temporarily stored in an area of the imagememory section 16 from which the first image data is read for processingby the image encoding section 17 disposed at the subsequent stage, andthe captured image data is temporarily stored in another area of theimage memory section 16 from which the second image data and othersthereafter are read for processing thereby. The data temporarily storedin the image memory section 16 as such, i.e., the navigation image dataand the captured image data, are read in this order as image data by theimage encoding section 17. The image encoding section 17 subjects theimage data to image compression and encoding. Herein, the image encodingsection 17 applies image compression and encoding to the navigationimage data, i.e., the first image, only by data of a screen, e.g.,applies compression and encoding as an I picture of H. 264. Similarly tothe first screen image of the captured image data, the captured imagedata subsequent to the navigation image data is subjected to compressionand encoding also as an I picture. The images subsequent thereto aresubjected to compression and encoding as P or B pictures with anestimation from other images located forward and rear thereof, as Ipictures only with data of a screen, or as mixture data thereof, therebygenerating the encoded image data. The resulting encoded image data isforwarded to the data generation section 1A. For the purpose ofperforming such a process of compression and encoding more in real time,the image encoding section 17 performs the process with the lowerquantization level for reducing the load of the process, e.g., reducingthe amount of encoding, or changes the processing speed by temporarilyincreasing the clock frequency, for example. On the other hand, theaudio data provided to the audio encoding section 19 is subjected tocompression and encoding by the audio encoding section 19, therebygenerating encoded audio data. The resulting encoded audio data is alsoforwarded to the data generation section 1A. The data generation section1A multiplexes the encoded image data and the encoded audio data, andgenerates stream data of moving images. FIG. 3 shows the schematicdiagram of (exemplary) stream data. FIG. 3 shows the stream data inorder, from the top, of images subjected to a process of decoding anddecompression. The first image indicates the navigation screen, whichhas been compressed and encoded as an I picture and multiplexed toinclude no audio data. The images located at the second, third, andfourth each indicate the captured image data, and the second image hasbeen compressed and encoded as an I picture, the third image as a Bpicture, and the fourth image as a P picture. The audio data ismultiplexed using the encoded audio data. The stream data generated bythe data generation section 1A is forwarded to the data recordingsection 1B, and the data recording section 1B records the stream dataonto the recording medium 1C.

For reproducing the stream data recorded as such using the video camera1, a picture analysis section (not shown) is provided for analyzing thepicture type of the stream data. If the analysis result tells that thestream data includes two or more I pictures in a row, the first Ipicture is forwarded to the display section (not shown) of the videocamera 1, and the display section keeps displaying the same image for apreset length of time. Thereafter, the next I picture is forwarded tothe display section. When the next picture is not of I, the pictures areforwarded to the display section one after another as with generalreproduction of video data. As an alternative to such image display,i.e., when the stream data includes two or more I pictures in a row, thefirst I picture is forwarded to the display section (not shown) of thevideo camera 1, and the image remains displayed for a preset length oftime, any same image may remain displayed until any user's operation,e.g., a user pushes a reproduction button or others, and in responsethereto, the next image may be displayed.

For reproducing the stream data in devices other than the video camera1, with a moving-image compression/encoding method with a mechanism forembedding, in a stream, data for stopping stream reproduction, e.g., aStill command of DVD-video standard, a VOBU (Video Object Unit) may beallocated between the pictures of the navigation screen and the picturesof the captured image of the second screen and others thereafter, and aVOBU Still command may be inserted by the data generation section 1A.

As such, in addition to section for receiving general captured images,the video camera is provided with section for receiving images from anyother video input source. The video camera may be also provided with animage input arbitration section that captures, after arbitration, videodata coming from these two input section, and stores the captured resultinto a memory. When the video input source is a video output terminal ofa car navigation system, the screen of the car navigation system, i.e.,map information, can be captured into a memory together with auser-captured image. The data in the memory is subjected to a process ofcompression and encoding as moving images, thereby leading to theeffects of being able to process the map information and theuser-captured image as a set of moving images.

Exemplified in this embodiment is the configuration that the navigationsystem 2 is connected to the outside of the video camera 1. This issurely not restrictive, and the similar effects can be also achievedeven if the video camera 1 and the navigation system 2 are configured asa piece.

The stream data recorded on the recording medium 1C may be automaticallytransferred to a network server, for example, via wireless LANenvironments, e.g., hotspots, that are found at many places in town.FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a system that transfers the stream datato the server in the hotpot environments. The video camera 1 isconfigured to include a data reading section 1E and a wirelesscommunications section 1F. The data reading section 1E serves to readthe stream data from the recording medium 1C, and the wirelesscommunications section 1F serves to wirelessly transmit the stream datato a network 4. The stream data output from the wireless communicationssection 1F is transferred to a server 5 connected to the network 4.

In this embodiment, the data generation section 1A is described assimply generating stream data. Alternatively, the data generationsection 1A may receive current position information from the navigationsystem 2 separately from the navigation image data, generate stream datawith a correlation with the current position information, and output theresulting stream data to the data recording section 1B for recordingonto the recording medium 10. If this is the case, for generating athumbnail image of the stream data recorded on the recording medium 10,the current position information may be used as a basis to configure thethumbnail display image with a combination with the map screen as shownin FIG. 9. In FIG. 9 example, the position on the map corresponding tothe position information correlated to the stream data is indicated by acircle, and the first captured image of the stream data is indicatedwith a correlation with the circle. When the video camera 1 includes aplurality of recording media, e.g., a hard disk and a DVD, the hard diskmay be used for recording of data when the video camera 1 is in generaluse, and the DVD may be used for recording of such a title screen asFIG. 9. The title screen is automatically created for use by a user toselect and edit the stream data for recording onto a DVD, for example.

In the embodiment, the image-capturing command is described as beingissued by the operation input section 11 through user's operation ofbuttons and switches of the video camera 1. Alternatively, thenavigation system 2 and the video camera 1 may be each provided withcommunications section such as USB, Bluetooth, and wireless LAN. A usermay make a setting in advance to the navigation system 2 of anypreferred location for image capturing, and when the user reaches thelocation set as such, the navigation system 2 may forward animage-capturing command to the operation input section 11 of the videocamera 1. The operation input section 11 then forwards animage-capturing start command to the control section 12 so that theimage capturing may be started in response thereto.

The effects similar thereto can be also achieved by video camerasdisposed at a plurality of locations for monitoring use under thefollowing three requirements. That is, firstly, the navigation system 2and the AV cable 3 are replaced with a medium storing map image data inadvance, e.g., USB flash memory and SD card, and a reading device thatreads the map image data from the medium. Secondly, data transfer to thenetwork server is performed under the hotpot environments as shown inFIG. 8. Thirdly, send-out section is provided for reading compressedimage data recorded on a recording medium, and assembling the compressedimage data into packets at a predetermined timing set by a user forsending out to the network. In this case, the wireless communicationssection 1F may be replaced with the communications function by wiredLAN.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment is described next. FIG. 4 shows an imagerecording/reproducing system of a second embodiment of the invention. Inthis embodiment, the configuration difference from the first embodimentlies in the following components provided to the video camera 1 inaddition to the configuration of FIG. 1, i.e., an external audio inputsection 181, an audio input arbitration section 182, an audio memorysection 183, and an audio activation section 1D. The external audioinput section 181 serves to receive audio from the navigation system 2.The audio input arbitration section 182 arbitrates the order of audiodata coming from the audio input section 18 and navigation audio datacoming from the external audio input section 181, and outputs theresulting data. The audio memory section 183 temporarily stores the dataprovided by the audio input arbitration section 182, and the audioactivation section 1D serves to transmit, to the navigation system 2 byinfrared communications or others, an audio activation command for thenavigation system 2 to activate the audio. The configuration differencealso lies in the following components provided to the navigation bodysection 21 of the navigation system 2 in addition to the configurationof FIG. 1, i.e., a navigation audio activation section 213 and anavigation audio output section 212. The navigation audio activationsection 213 receives an audio activation command from the audioactivation section 1D of the video camera 1 by infrared communicationsor others, and issues an activation command for outputting navigationaudio. The navigation audio output section 212 outputs the navigationaudio in response to the activation command.

FIG. 5 shows the operation flow of the components in the secondembodiment.

Described now is the image-capturing procedure in the imagerecording/reproducing system of the second embodiment. A user issues animage-capturing command to the operation input section 11 of the videocamera 1. This image-capturing command may be an operation for thenavigation system 2 to activate audio telling position information andothers, e.g., an operation of pushing the “current location” button ofthe navigation system 2. The operation input section 11 issues animage-capturing start command to the control section 12. The operationinput section 11 also issues an audio activation command to the audioactivation section 1D. The control section 12 issues an activationcommand all to the captured image input section 13, the audio inputsection 18, the external image input section 19, and the external audioinput section 181. In response to the activation command, the externalimage input section 14 captures, from the navigation system 2, videosignals that are always coming from the external video terminal, forexample, and generates navigation image data for output to the imageinput arbitration section 15. The navigation image data in this case isdata with one or more pictures of a fixed length of time set by a userin advance. The captured image input section 13 inputs a target image ofuser's image capturing, and generates captured image data bydigitalization of the target image. The generated data is forwarded tothe image input arbitration section 15. On the other hand, in responseto the audio activation command issued against the audio activationsection 1D by the operation input section 11, the audio activationsection 1D issues, by infrared communications or others, an audioactivation command to the navigation audio activation section 213 of thenavigation system 2. This audio activation command may be issued by theaudio activation section 1D, and may be the same as a signal provided tothe navigation system 2 from a remote controller when a “currentlocation” button or others provided thereto are pushed. The remotecontroller here is the one provided to the navigation system 2 as thegeneral function of navigation. When receiving the audio activationcommand, the navigation audio activation section 213 issues anactivation command to the navigation audio output section 212. Inresponse to the activation command, the navigation audio output section212 may output an audio such as “the current location is close toYoshida-cho, Totsuka, Yokohama”, and this audio is output from theexternal audio terminal, for example. The external audio input section181 captures, from the navigation system 2, the navigation audio comingfrom the external audio terminal and others in response to theactivation command from the control section 12, and generates navigationaudio data for output to the audio input arbitration section 182. Thenavigation audio data in this case is data of a fixed length of time setby a user in advance. The time set as such may be the same as the timefor data capturing by the external image input section 14. The audioinput section 18 receives any target audio of user's image capturing,and generates audio data by digitalization thereof. The resulting audiodata is forwarded to the audio encoding section 19. The navigation imagedata and the captured image data provided to the image input arbitrarysection 15 are temporarily stored in an area of the image memory section16, which is set for encoding in this order. That is, the navigationimage data is temporarily stored in an area of the image memory section16 from which the first image data is read for processing by the imageencoding section 17 disposed at the subsequent stage, and the capturedimage data is temporarily stored in another area of the image memorysection 16 from which the second image data and others thereafter areread for processing thereby. The data temporarily stored in the imagememory section 16 as such, i.e., the navigation image data and thecaptured image data, are read in this order as image data by the imageencoding section 17. The image encoding section 17 subjects the imagedata to image compression and encoding. Herein, the image encodingsection 17 applies image compression and encoding to the navigationimage data, i.e., the first image, only by data of a screen, e.g.,applies compression and encoding as an I picture of H. 264. Similarly tothe first screen image of the captured image data, the captured imagedata subsequent to the navigation image data is subjected to compressionand encoding as an I picture. The images subsequent thereto aresubjected to compression and encoding as P or B pictures with anestimation from other images located forward and rear thereof, as Ipictures only with data of a screen, or as mixture data thereof, therebygenerating the encoded image data. The resulting encoded image data isforwarded to the data generation section 1A. On the other hand, thenavigation audio data and the audio data provided to the audio inputarbitration section 182 are temporarily stored in an area of the audiomemory section 183, which is set for encoding in this order. Thenavigation audio data and the audio data temporarily stored as such inthe audio memory section 183 are read in this order by the audioencoding section 19 as mixed audio data. The mixed audio data thusprovided to the audio encoding section 19 is subjected to a process ofcompression and encoding by the audio encoding section 19 so that theencoded audio data is generated. The resulting encoded audio data isforwarded to the data generation section 1A. The data generation section1A multiplexes the encoded image data and the encoded audio data, andgenerates stream data of moving images. FIG. 6 shows the schematicdiagram of (exemplary) stream data. FIG. 6 shows the stream data inorder, from the top, of images subjected to a process of decoding anddecompression. The upper three images indicate the navigation screens,which have been compressed and encoded as pictures of I, B, and P fromthe top, and the audio data is multiplexed by data corresponding to theexternal audio data of the encoded audio data. The lower three imagesindicate the captured image data, which have been compressed and encodedas pictures of I, B, and P from the fourth image from the top, and theaudio data is multiplexed by data corresponding to the audio data of theencoded audio data. In FIG. 6, the upper three images are of the samebut may be all different navigation images. The stream data generated bythe data generation section 1A is forwarded to the data recordingsection 1B, and the data recording section 1B records the stream dataonto the recording medium 1C.

In such a procedure, the effects similar to the first embodiment can beachieved.

In this embodiment, the navigation image data is described as being dataof a fixed length of time set by a user in advance, for example.Alternatively, the navigation system 2 and the video camera 1 may beeach provided with communications section such as USB, Bluetooth, andwireless LAN, and when the navigation audio is completed, the navigationsystem 2 may forward a navigation audio completion notice to theexternal audio input section 181 of the video camera 1, and the externalaudio input section 181 may determine the end of the data by thecompletion notice.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment is described next. The difference from the firstembodiment lies in that the video camera 1 is connected with C-sidewireless communications section 32, and the navigation system 2 isconnected with N-side wireless communications section 31, i.e., in thefirst embodiment, the video camera 1 and the navigation system 2 areconnected together by the AV cable 3. The C-side wireless communicationssection 32 and the N-side wireless communications section 31 communicateeach other for data exchange using a wireless communications protocolsuch as infrared communications, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth.

The image-capturing procedure in the image recording/reproducing systemof the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except that anavigation image is exchanged by the N- and C-side wirelesscommunications section 31 and 32, i.e., in the first embodiment, anavigation image is exchanged between the navigation image outputsection 211 to the external image input section 14 via an AV cable 3.

With such a procedure, the effects similar to the first embodiment canbe achieved.

While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance withour invention, it should be understood that disclosed embodiments aresusceptible of changes and modifications without departing from thescope of the invention. Therefore, we do not intend to be bound by thedetails shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changesand modifications that fall within the ambit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a transceiverconfigured to wirelessly acquire, from an external device wirelesslyconnected with the imaging apparatus, current position information ofthe external device and information relating to an image-capturingcommand; an imager configured to perform an image-capturing processbased on the information relating to the image-capturing commandacquired by the transceiver; and a controller configured to record imagedata acquired by the imager, as a result of performing theimage-capturing process based on the information relating to theimage-capturing command, in association with the current positioninformation of the external device acquired by the transceiver, whereinthe controller is further configured, in a first control mode, to:automatically output, when the image data acquired by the imager isrecorded in association with the current position information of theexternal device, a thumbnail of the image data outside of the imagingapparatus, and wherein the controller is further configured, in a secondcontrol mode, to: output a thumbnail of the image data recorded inassociation with the current position information of the external deviceat a timing set by a user.
 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim1, wherein the transceiver acquires the current position information ofthe external device when acquiring the information relating to theimage-capturing command.
 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, in the first control mode, the thumbnail of the image data isoutput outside so as to be transferred to a server on a network.
 4. Theimaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the second controlmode, the thumbnail of the image data is output outside so as to betransferred to a server on a network.
 5. The imaging apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein, in the first control mode, the thumbnail of theimage data is output outside with the image data.
 6. The imagingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the second control mode, thethumbnail of the image data is output outside with the image data.
 7. Animaging apparatus comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelesslyacquire, from an external device wirelessly connected with the imagingapparatus, current position information of the external device andinformation relating to an image-capturing command; an imager configuredto perform an image-capturing process based on the information relatingto the image-capturing command acquired by the transceiver; and acontroller configured to record image data acquired by the imager, as aresult of performing the image-capturing process based on theinformation relating to the image-capturing command, in association withthe current position information of the external device acquired by thetransceiver, wherein the controller is further configured, in a firstcontrol mode, to: automatically output, when the image data acquired bythe imager is recorded in association with the current positioninformation of the external device, the image data outside of theimaging apparatus, and wherein the controller is further configured, ina second control mode, to: output the image data recorded in associationwith the current position information of the external device at a timingset by a user.
 8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe transceiver acquires the current position information of theexternal device when acquiring the information relating to theimage-capturing command.
 9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7,wherein, in the first control mode, the image data is output outside soas to be transferred to a server on a network.
 10. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein, in the second control mode, the imagedata is output outside so as to be transferred to a server on a network.11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image datais data of moving images.
 12. A method of operating an imaging apparatuscomprising: wirelessly acquiring, from an external device wirelesslyconnected with the imaging apparatus, current position information ofthe external device and information relating to an image-capturingcommand; performing, by an imager of the imaging apparatus, animage-capturing process based on the information relating to theimage-capturing command acquired by a transceiver; recording image dataacquired by the imager, as a result of performing the image-capturingprocess based on the information relating to the image-capturingcommand, in association with the current position information of theexternal device acquired by the transceiver; automatically outputting,in a first control mode and when the image data acquired by the imageris recorded in association with the current position information of theexternal device, a thumbnail of the image data outside of the imagingapparatus; and outputting, in a second control mode, a thumbnail of theimage data recorded in association with the current position informationof the external device at a timing set by a user.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the current position information of theexternal device is wirelessly acquired when acquiring the informationrelating to the image-capturing command.
 14. The method according toclaim 12, wherein, in the first control mode, the thumbnail of the imagedata is output outside so as to be transferred to a server on a network.15. The method according to claim 12, wherein, in the second controlmode, the thumbnail of the image data is output outside so as to betransferred to a server on a network.
 16. The method according to claim12, wherein, in the first control mode, the thumbnail of the image datais output outside with the image data.
 17. The method according to claim12, wherein, in the second control mode, the thumbnail of the image datais output outside with the image data.
 18. A method of operating animaging apparatus comprising: wirelessly acquiring, from an externaldevice wirelessly connected with the imaging apparatus, current positioninformation of the external device and information relating to animage-capturing command; performing, by an imager of the imagingapparatus, an image-capturing process based on the information relatingto the image-capturing command acquired by a transceiver; recordingimage data acquired by the imager, as a result of performing theimage-capturing process based on the information relating to theimage-capturing command, in association with the current positioninformation of the external device acquired by the transceiver;automatically outputting, in a first control mode and when the imagedata acquired by the imager is recorded in association with the currentposition information of the external device, the image data outside ofthe imaging apparatus; and outputting, in a second control mode, theimage data recorded in association with the current position informationof the external device at a timing set by a user.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein the current position information of theexternal device is wirelessly acquired when acquiring the informationrelating to the image-capturing command.
 20. The method according toclaim 18, wherein, in the first control mode, the image data is outputoutside so as to be transferred to a server on a network.
 21. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein, in the second control mode, the imagedata is output outside so as to be transferred to a server on a network.22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the image data is data ofmoving images.